with Pebble Beach and Carmel

Seaside resort and northern gateway to coastal Route One

Santa Cruz marks the top end of the most spectacular part of the California coastline, with Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and San Simeon following on to the south. It’s a small city with a heritage of surfing, Volkswagen Beetles, good living and mild climate. Central attraction down by the beach is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

We stopped off in Santa Cruz for a night on our California coast tour of 2010, staying at the Ocean Gate Inn, a fairly standard motel. As it was a Monday night there wasn’t a lot going on in the evening, but that didn’t stop us from having a few in the bar “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer”.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a full scale seaside theme park, and it’s all very Blackpool Pleasure Beach, but without the casinos. It was opened in 1907 and proves enduringly popular.

Centrepiece of the Boardwalk, this giant arcade contains all the fun of the indoor fair.

Beach condos at Santa Cruz, by the Sea and Sand Inn.

Sand spit and sunbathers at Santa Cruz beach. The Pacific summer fog loiters in the background.

Trying to get along the boardwalk was a bit of a challenge, with the hordes of holidaymakers. Looks like the overhead chairlift would have been a better bet.

By the Municipal Wharf there was a collection of seals, variously basking and barking. All this one needs is a beach ball on the end of its nose.

The Del Mar Theatre on Pacific Avenue, in the centre of Santa Cruz. Not dissimilar to another art deco movie house we saw in San Luis Obispo.

Further around the coast past Monterey is the scenic Seventeen Mile Drive, which takes you through a beautiful coastal area lined with large fancy houses, such as these.

The Pacific coast looking south towards Carmel. The seaweed may not have smelled all that fresh, but it makes for a nice picture.

The Lone Cypress towards the southern end of 17 Mile Drive. This tree is a symbol of Pebble Beach.

Pebble Beach golf course itself as seen from the road. I had to take this photo quickly, as there was a sign promising the releasing of hounds for folk loitering around here. The course has one of the most splendid settings of any golf course in the world.

Bedecked caddying types welcome you to The Lodge at Pebble Beach. This is a fancy establishment, opened in 1919, and with the high green fees to match.

Inside The Lodge at Pebble Beach, there are the same great views across the Pacific, by roaring log fires (even in summer!)

Near to Pebble Beach is the small town of Carmel, officially known as Carmel-by-the-Sea, another very pretty Californian location. It’s popular with writers, poets and painter, and apparently retirees.